Speaker Pelosi said Tuesday that 'there is serious unrest' in the House Democratic Caucus over funding the Afghanistan war.

Washington (CNN) - Speaker Nancy Pelosi kept the door open Tuesday to a proposal by several senior House Democrats to impose a graduated surtax on American taxpayers to finance the war in Afghanistan.

While Pelosi wasn't pressed about the details of the new war tax, she pointed to strong reservations among Congressional Democrats about the costs of the war during a conference call Tuesday with several economic writers and bloggers.

"But let me say that there is serious unrest in our Caucus about can we afford this war?" Pelosi said.
Two years ago when House Appropriations Chairman David Obey, D-Wisconsin, floated a similar war tax to pay for the war in Iraq, Pelosi quickly rejected it. But on Tuesday Pelosi said the costs of the war and the impact they will have on other domestic priorities should be part of the discussion over U.S. strategy in Afghanistan.

In addition to Obey, several senior Democrats close to Pelosi have signed on as co-sponsors of the "Share the Sacrifice Act." These include Defense Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman John Murtha, D-Pennsylvania, Ways and Means Chairman Charlie Rangel, D-New York, Financial Services Chairman Barney Frank, D-Massachusetts, and the third ranking House Democrat John Larson, D-Connecticut. Obey projects that an escalation of significantly more U.S. troops to Afghanistan will cost about $1 trillion over the next ten years.

soundoff(300 Responses)

These clowns keep spending the cash...must be nice to spend others hard earned money. As bad as the Bush years were, this is getting even worse! I didn't think that was possible.

November 24, 2009 09:46 pm at 9:46 pm |

Jason Withington

What about us who neither want war or a new tax?

November 24, 2009 09:47 pm at 9:47 pm |

Mike

Pelosi can stick that idea where the doesn't shine

November 24, 2009 09:47 pm at 9:47 pm |

Chris

So let me get this straight...
The government can take on 1/5th of the US economy without making it an additional cost to American citizens, but somehow it cannot send an addition 40,000 troops to the middle east without creating a new tax.

Thank you politicians. Thank you Democrats. Thank you Liberals.

November 24, 2009 09:49 pm at 9:49 pm |

Shawn

We could scale back the domestic agenda before we break the back of the American tax payer – what a thought!
I read that the treasury department is asking Americans for donations to pay down the debt. Congress and especially Joe Biden should do their "Patriotic duty" and donate their own money to the USA, instead of asking for more from us.

November 24, 2009 09:49 pm at 9:49 pm |

Robinhood

She adds a war tax.. that will be the end of the democratic party in the us. It will also mean we will have war amongst ourselves. Arm your selves or die....

November 24, 2009 09:49 pm at 9:49 pm |

Jose

This woman and the loony left have declared war on propserous Americans. I hope that people knwo that prosperity will not be tolerated by this regimine. Vote these losers out in 2010.

November 24, 2009 09:50 pm at 9:50 pm |

Bob in Pa

I think we are all open to Ms Pelosi stepping down.

November 24, 2009 09:51 pm at 9:51 pm |

Fletcher

This should not come as a surprise. Has anyone ever seen this woman against a tax?

November 24, 2009 09:51 pm at 9:51 pm |

jmakk

How much more can they tax us? I mean come on! I don't think the rich are going be so rich anymore. Where are all the jobs going to come from? IDIOTS.

November 24, 2009 09:51 pm at 9:51 pm |

Jay T.

Absolutely! Maybe it will change the disturbing trend of those who vote for war don't fight in the wars. I can't wait to see Republicans justify a tax hike to fight a bs war. Because it isn't free.

November 24, 2009 09:52 pm at 9:52 pm |

jmakk

tax and spenders. Change I can live WITHOUT.

November 24, 2009 09:52 pm at 9:52 pm |

Stever

This is utter idiocy. Maybe if the government can't afford all these wars, they should think twice next time before sending troops to fight half way around the world, or withdraw our troops right now, rather than taxing us for this stupidity.

November 24, 2009 09:53 pm at 9:53 pm |

JDG

How about bringing our tropps home and securing our borders instead!

November 24, 2009 09:53 pm at 9:53 pm |

AmosGraber

It’s about time we have a war tax. This is the first time in the history of America we have gone to war without some kind of civilian sacrifice towards paying for the war. The current debt has occurred because of the lack of such a sacrifice. We have to pay for the expenses we accrue and this is even more important in a time of war!

November 24, 2009 09:53 pm at 9:53 pm |

nikki

If you need to ask whether you can afford it, you can't. GET US OUT OF THESE WARS!!

Dean/Grayson 2012!!!

November 24, 2009 09:54 pm at 9:54 pm |

Dale in Michigan

Just take the $$ out of Obama's State Dinner Budget.

November 24, 2009 09:54 pm at 9:54 pm |

wakeupcall

Tax corporations a triple war tax. Most view that this war is because and for their future investments in the Middle East......not to get at enemies. The terrorists are now all over the world. Bring terrorists to justice like all criminals, but in Federal Courts immediately.....not spend billions more money and lives in a country that certainly does not want us there. nor should we be there. It is time our military gets home and guards this country here,instead of being abused by putting them in harms way for yet more corporate expansion and profit.
overseas....under the usual guise of waving the banners.

November 24, 2009 09:55 pm at 9:55 pm |

Tim F

Nancy Pelosi and the rest of congress should show some initiative and take a pay cut to help fund the war. Remember folks, funding a war is how taxes started in the first place. If this tax passes it will never go away!

November 24, 2009 09:56 pm at 9:56 pm |

Alan Monterey, CA

Wow....what a moronic twist of non sequitor logic. Instead of standing up to a President from you OWN party in order attain a change in policy, your plan is to turn around and seek to penalize THE PUBLIC??? Seriously??? Just goes to show that NEITHER party has a grasp on reality. >:-(

November 24, 2009 09:56 pm at 9:56 pm |

Duke of Parma

Nancy is open to any tax that will siphon wealth from the citizens and put in her hands to spend.

With unemployment at an all time high, with one enormously expensive Democratic program after another its time to throw spendthrifts like Pelosi out with the rest of the garbage.

November 24, 2009 09:57 pm at 9:57 pm |

Just an American

"But let me say that there is serious unrest in our Caucus about can we afford this war?" Pelosi said.

Where was this unrest when the so called "economic stimulus" package was rammed through?

Where is this unrest with the proposed healthcare reform?

Both of those will cost more in the long run.

November 24, 2009 09:58 pm at 9:58 pm |

txleadhead

High hopes. The majority of the American public disapprove of both Wars. They ran on ending them. Once again we are being ignored. When Americans have had enough my guns stand at the ready. Hopefully before they totally bankrupt Our country. Vote them all out. They've done nothing to keep their jobs.

November 24, 2009 09:58 pm at 9:58 pm |

Dano

Maybe Charles Rangel should start off by paying his taxes correctly each year, then add in his "Share the Sacrifice" payment. We'll have more money that way.

November 24, 2009 09:59 pm at 9:59 pm |

Dennis, Amarillo Texas

Another Democrat Trick to make the War even more unpopular, and further erode public moral support for our Troops.